Deerfield Housing Authority Debts Erased

DEERFIELD BEACH — The city`s Housing Authority, long troubled by financial woes, got a reprieve from debts owed the city for nearly $75,000 of fire and police protection, lawn service and garbage pickup.

City commissioners Tuesday voted 4-1 to approve the waiver of debt.

``This is where our charity should begin -- at home,`` Mayor Jean Robb said in voting for the waiver.

Bill Lindsey, the Fort Lauderdale Housing Authority director who has been assisting the Deerfield board, said he was gratified by the waiver but said he considers it an ``investment`` by the city for its residents.

``This is a new day for the western part of Deerfield in that the commission has said that it cares about the quality of life for all people,`` he said.

The Deerfield Beach Housing Authority runs the 96-unit Stanley Terrace, a family project at 412 NW Second St., and the Palms of Deerfield, 425 SW First Terrace, a 100-unit complex for the elderly and handicapped.

The waiver covers debts accrued as PILOT, an acronym for payment in lieu of taxes. Because the housing authority is a non-profit organization, it is exempt from taxes, but is required to pay for police and fire protection based on the number of people it houses and the rent they pay.

To date, the authority owed the city $39,000 in PILOT, according to Dave Bok, Deerfield Beach`s finance director.

In March 1983, the housing authority asked the commission to forgive $35,000 it owed as PILOT. Commissioners refused and the authority paid $21,000 of that amount.

In addition, city employees have been mowing the grounds of the complexes and collecting garbage and trash, services for which Deerfield Beach was owed $10,000 and $11,000 respectively, Lindsey said. Commissioners also waived these debts.